A mission guided investigation of operational functions and user interface for Mobility Augmenting Jetpack with Integrated CMGs (MAJIC)

As a stepping stone towards eventual human exploration of Mars, NASA plans to explore low-gravity bodies. Since the low-gravity surface environments encountered on such missions would limit the independent mobility of astronauts, an updated version of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) that offers counter reaction forces and torques during movements and tasks would likely be required. The next-generation maneuvering and stability system proposed by a joint Draper Laboratory-MIT collaboration incorporates control-moment gyroscopes (CMGs) into an extravehicular activity (EVA) Jetpack device currently under development at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This Mobility Augmenting Jetpack with Integrated CMGs (MAJIC) system will offer rigid attitude control not previously required for MMU tasks, which have mainly consisted of satellite capture, satellite repair, and rescue maneuvers. To guide the design of the system, a Concept of Operations for MAJIC is presented, which includes several scenarios that would benefit from the system's stiffer work platform and reduced fuel consumption. These scenarios span a range of work environments and tasks, including asteroid or Martian moon surface sample collection, equipment deployment, International Space Station (ISS) or satellite servicing and repair, rescue maneuvers, and contingency EVA on spacecraft not equipped with built-in EVA handholds. The wide ranging benefits of the system illustrated by each MAJIC mission profile guide the investigation, selection, and evaluation of different control modes and operational functions. User evaluations of an interactive virtual reality (VR) simulation also influenced the operational function investigation. The VR simulation provides real-time position and attitude feedback for various scenarios with the MAJIC system. The results of these user evaluations will guide the jetpack design in order to incorporate performance-enhancing capabilities specific to certain tasks or mission types.